Peter Drummond has been sentenced to 10 years for raping a woman before trying to commit suicideGMP/Reuters

Rapist Peter Drummond has been jailed for 10 years for tying up a woman and guzzling Viagra before raping her and trying to commit suicide afterwards.

The 62-year-old, of Holbeck Avenue, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to charges of rape, sexual assault by penetration, three counts of sexual assault and false imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court and was jailed on Wednesday (28 April).

The court heard harrowing details of how Drummond turned up at the home of a 55-year-old friend on 25 November, 2014, on the pretence of getting help with some benefit forms.

While she made him a cup of tea, Drummond held a knife to her throat and said the chilling words: "No more nice Peter, you are going to do what I tell you to do."

He tied her up while he consumed a gel pouch of Viagra and went about closing curtains in the home to avoid being caught.

It was then that the victim tried desperately to escape, running out of the front door and into the street.

But she only managed to go a short distance before he caught up with her and put the knife back to her throat, saying: "One nick there and you will bleed to death, so you will walk back into the house."

Afraid that he would carry out his threat, the victim walked back into the house and, at Drummond's request, started to remove her clothes.

He then subjected her to a prolonged sexual assault and rape.

Suicide bid

Drummond and the victim dressed and went downstairs to the kitchen, where he started to down a large number of pills and medication, telling the victim that he was still thinking about killing her.

But when he started to get drowsy, she took her chance and phoned the ambulance service, who immediately contacted police.

When Drummond was taken to hospital, he asked police officers: "I haven't killed her have I? What have I done? I haven't hurt her have I?"

Commenting after the sentence, detective constable Russell Clarke of Greater Manchester Police said: "The victim has shown incredible courage throughout this investigation and has dealt bravely with what has been a life-changing experience for her.

"Peter Drummond decided that his final act on earth would be to humiliate and sexually abuse this poor woman before holding her hostage as he attempted to take his own life.

"He believed there would be no consequences to his actions but today he learned just how wrong he was.

"He even had the temerity to ask someone closely connected to the victim for a character reference for court, a staggeringly insensitive act in its own right.

"I hope that this sentence will help to put this horrendous ordeal behind her and at the same time sends out a clear message to the perpetrators of sexual and physical violence that police will do everything in their power to bring them to justice."